Sun Feb 3 00:02:46 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Gaborik scores two as Wild defeat Blue Jackets

---

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Marian Gaborik's pair of second-period goals helped Minnesota top Columbus, 4-1, at Nationwide Arena.

Brian Rolston and Kurtis Foster also scored for the Wild, who have won four of their last five. Pavol Demitra added two assists and Niklas Backstrom picked up the win by making 33 saves.

Derick Brassard provided the lone offense for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three in a row. Fredrik Norrena stopped just 16 shots in defeat.

A three-goal second period provided all the margin Minnesota needed to earn the victory.

Rolston put the Wild back on top as he one-timed Pierre-Marc Bouchard's feed home from the outer edge of the right circle at 5:52, then Gaborik notched two in a row to make it a 4-1 Minnesota lead.

On the first one, he finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play between Todd Fedoruk and Demitra at 10:25, and on the second, he tipped in another Demitra feed from in close 1:19 seconds later.

The Wild were on their heels throughout the final 20 minutes, outshot 11-1, but Backstrom hung in and turned aside every Columbus chance.

Minnesota got on the board first, when a floater from the left point by Foster dipped in the slot and past a screened Norrena at 9:40. The goal was set up by Mikko Koivu's faceoff win, after which he drew the puck directly back to the defenseman.

Brassard connected for his first NHL goal 3:40 into the second period, tying the score when he took a dish from Dan Fritsche, turned in the right circle towards the net and whipped a wrister over Backstrom's glove.

Game Notes

Rolston extended his goal streak to five games...Gaborik earned his sixth multi-goal performance of the season...There were 13 penalties in the game, seven to Minnesota...The Wild won the season series, 3-1-0, including both games in Columbus.